Monday, October 23, 2006

High gas prices take a toll
Being a little bit angry over the price of a gas in the state of AK is a basic understatement. All over the country prices are much lower than ours, “The question is why?”

Support from friends made dog jog a success
On behalf of Tsalteshi Trails Association I would like to thank Our Best Friends and Cohoe Micro Bakery for sponsoring the Susan Butcher Memorial Dog Jog/Walk. The 5K run/walk was held on Sunday, October 8th to raise money for the Cancer Survivors on Mt. Aspiring Charity in memory of Susan Butcher.

Donald John Geisen
Anchor Point resident Donald John Geisen died Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, at his home after a battle with lung cancer. He was 73.

Arctic Winter Games continue to pay off
Probably many of us have forgotten already all the work and preparation and activity locally when the Arctic Winter Games took place. I for one traveled to Arizona that week to visit my parents.

Passports shouldn’t be shown around
I was surprised to see individuals’ passport photos on the front page of Monday’s (Oct. 16) Clarion. It seems entirely appropriate for a newspaper to document a local event and remind travelers of pending new rules. But it struck me as odd that the Post Office staff would allow passport applicants’ photographs to be published in a newspaper (and therefore on the Internet).

Anne H. Olson
Soldotna resident Anne H. Olson died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006, at her home with family and friends at her side. She was 89.

Wal-Mart delay isn’t red tape
I’m writing in regard to your story in Thursday’s (Oct. 12) paper about Wall-Mart. I do not like the headline that suggests that the delay is a petty little red-tape bureaucracy issue. It is my opinion that the delay  for the Army Corps of Engineers is a valid delay that should not be rushed, or pushed by the political process. The proposed Wall-Mart site sits on headwaters of a salmon stream. I think it is important to let the Army Corps determine whether the intended use is OK and what limits, restrictions and conditions on the land use are best.

Stars achieved what teams before dreamed of
Congratulations to the Soldotna High School Football team on winning the State Championship. As a player on the first 2 seasons (1980, 1981) of Soldotna High School we aspired to win the conference, but fell short. It brought back great memories of teammates Andy Mack, Daryl Pederson, Kevin Waldren, Greg Merkes, Craig Lucas and many others.

Shorter session would cost state more
Ballot Measure No. 1 on the November 7, 2006 ballot is to shorten Alaska legislative sessions from 120 days to 90 days. This Measure should be based on the Legislature, in past years, being able to complete its business in less than the 120 day regular session. This assumption, however, would not be correct. In the last twelve (12) years, there have been fifteen (15), costly special legislative sessions, extending the sessions beyond 120 days. From these facts, one might conclude that regular legislative sessions should be extended, not shortened?

Vote ‘no’ on 2
It is my belief that Ballot Measure 2 if it’s passed will have a tremendous impact on jobs and development of the North Slope of Alaska. We have got to Vote NO.

Volunteers helped make marathon run smoothly
Thanks to the many volunteers who made the 1st Kenai River Marathon a success. Some 40-50 of you worked together at all levels. Didn’t we have fun? It was a healthy event which brought out people of many ages  runners and volunteers  and folks came from near and far, some who had never been to Kenai before.

Kenai wants its own voice
The prospect of sharing a new subsistence regional advisory council with Anchorage has ruffled the feathers of Kenai Peninsula hunters and fishermen who worry the city’s residents could dominate the council.

Kenai won’t turn off bills
After hearing from a second recreational vehicle park owner, Kenai decided to stick with its earlier decision to charge for water and sewer service in winter, even though the parks are closed.

Agrium shuts down for winter
Agrium’s Nikiski fertilizer plant will shut down for the winter Monday, a move that may be a trend in future winters without a significant change in Cook Inlet’s natural gas supply and delivery situation.

Snag idea catches favor
Dwight Kramer says there are one too many scarred riverbanks and fish to justify a regulation that prevents anglers from keeping sockeye salmon that have been snagged, a term that refers to fish that have been hooked somewhere other than in the mouth.

Counting belugas a tough task
At the heart of the debate over whether an endangered status should be granted now, or await a more detailed study, is the lack of understanding about why no rebound has occurred.

Hunting for beluga delay
Cook Inlet’s struggling population of beluga whales could be headed for extinction, say environmentalists pushing to see the cetaceans listed on the Endangered Species Act.

Around the Peninsula
Seniors serve up breakfast
Domestic violence workshop set
Used book sale planned
LeeShore board meeting slated
CPGH board meeting slated
Basketball camp set to shoot
National Guard to host party
Sports swap gears up
Craft vendors sought
GED help available in Ninilchik

Peninsula Reflections
Joanna Hollier says her dad told her what all women do is “get married and have babies.” She set out to prove him wrong. This Wisconsin farm girl got two jobs  one in a restaurant working from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., the second at a dime store afternoons and evenings. When she had saved $200 she enrolled in the Radio, Television and Electronics Institute which prepared her for a position she took in Alaska. She learned there’s more out there than farm life  and a lot more money, too. Looking back, though, her father was partially right. Along with all her adventuring, she did get married and have babies.  Mary Ford with the Kenai Historical Society.

Motherfessions Tales from the "Hood"
Hello. My name is Jacki and I have a confession. I’m a bag lady. I now know that I’m not alone and that millions of moms spend their days at least half in the bag. For years I’ve lived in denial and concealed my secret under the guise of living a stereotypical suburban existence  minivan, cell phone, Birkenstocks and all. But, truth be told, I am a bona fide, certified, honest-to-goodness, tote-carrying, backpack-packing, luggage-lugging, purse-packing, duffle-dragging, grocery sack-slinging, garbage bag-groping, diaper bag-wielding bag lady.

Cooking on the Kenai
You spent your summer hunting, fishing and gathering  or making friends with people who do. Now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Here’s some ideas from Kenai Peninsula cooks on how to eat what you’ve reaped.

Day of Caring volunteers give seniors gift of independence
Central Peninsula Counseling Service's Forget-Me-Not Center, a daily activity program for seniors who still want to remain active despite limitations imposed by illness, would like to thank the employees of First National Bank for their commitment to bettering our community by participating in United Way’s Day of Caring.

Sports Briefs
The Dillingham wrestling team captured the Grace Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Anchorage. Also at the meet, Ninilchik was 14th, Nikiski was 15th, Seldovia tied for 17th and Cook Inlet Academy tied for 20th.

SoHi netters nip Kardinals
Soldotna volleyball coach Pako Whannell is not sure how many times her team has played in five-game matches this year, she just knows it’s too many.

Nikiski netters roll over Grace, Heritage
The Nikiski High School volleyball team didn’t drop a game in winning two matches over the weekend, clinching the top seed for the Southcentral Conference tournament along the way.